Original 15" Steel Wheels (Need help from the stock truck specialists)

[cericd]

I want to pick up a set of stock 71-72 wheels for my truck and I noticed that an old thread on the subject (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=586512) lists them as being 15" x 6.5" but I noticed on the 72 truck brochure it lists the size as being 15" x 6" with a 15" x 5" being "available". My truck is a 1970 but I am planning to add OEM size disc brakes up front and I'm looking to maintain a stock look. So before I start looking too hard I was wondering if the wheel is stamped 15" x 6" or 15" x 6.5".

[cericd]

Anyone?

[cericd]

Anyone??

[leddzepp]

All 71/72 steelies I have are 15x6

[1971 K10 shortbox]

These are 15x6.

[cericd]

Hey shortbox, I'm almost 100% sure those are pre-71 non-disc brake wheels.

[jocko]

If you want to put disks on your 70 and maintain 6 lug, you need 71-87 K5/K10 wheels. 6 lug and clear disk brakes - that's pretty much it. (71 C10s went to 5 lug, but K5s/10s remained 6 lug and accommodated disks)

[jocko]

Originally Posted by cericd

Hey shortbox, I'm almost 100% sure those are pre-71 non-disc brake wheels.

u r correct = the tapered section indicates pre-71 and not disk compatible

[special-K]

You're talking 5-lug wheels,right? I only know of 15 x 6s. I have seen mention of 6.5s but don't believe they exist. Yes, the width will be stamped in the wheel

[cericd]

Yep Tim, I'm talking 5-lug. I always see people talking about 15x6.5's but the literature seems to all say 15x6. I picked up a set from a guy on craigslist that said they were from an 83-85 Chevy Truck. They are five lug, 4 nub and measure 15x6 but I can't find anything stamped between the bead areas. However, there is some number imprinted in that area that reminds me of the old dot matrix printer type stuff and I did find some stuff stamped by one of the lug holes (M4 ?) and the valve stem (23 XW). Any idea if these are actual GM truck rims from 83-85?

See pics below.

[jocko]

Oops! Sorry, thought you were wanting to stay on 6 lug in your 70. Disregard!

[cleanfreak]

There has been a set for sale up here for a while , guy says they are original to a 71 gmc , they have the "large" cooling slots. Here's a pic.

[Hutch]

I am not a stock truck specialist.

When I bought my 71 Chevrolet it came with after market 8 in wide wheels
It also came with 5 other wheels
They all were all mismatched
I think maybe one was the original all were 5 lug x 6in wide

I was able to purchase a 4 wheels with tires and caps that were original 1971 GMC The seller that stated they were all original to a 70,000 mile GMC

The 4 tires and wheels all have the same stampings on the outer wheels
They are all 15x6 in
I have not removed the tires to see if there is any markings inside

[special-K]

That's really helpful there Hutch. thanks! I have a set on my '67 project and a pair set back for my trailer. I'll look to set what's stamped on those. I know the pair came from an 88-91 Suburban, so would make a good example of late wheel stampings. The set came off a '67 Panel that had been converted to 5-lug I had a while back. So, may not be OEM at all.

[cericd]

So, for those of you that are interested in this sort of thing... here is an update on the wheels I mentioned in post #10 of this thread. The date (and other info) is stamped into the lip on the back side of the wheel. Looks like there were made in 1981.

[R.L.]

Thanks for posting.

[cericd]

Rim Pics

[special-K]

So we were just talking about this some in my wheels for sale thread. I had taken pictures (other than shown in thread) to show the two different center contours, both disc brake.same backspace. The first one is like yours. Here they are:



I believe the 6 1/2" you see people referring to are the '80s K model 6-luggers

[cericd]

Hey specialK, thanks for the excellent pics. They really illustrate the different centers. I ran across this thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=621161 where yote1234 was looking specifically for some 1971 dated wheels. The ones posted from two different sellers appear to have the convex (your wheel pic 1) centers but they have "bumps in between each lug hole and the date "71" is on one of the bumps. Other than the bumps and a little hole in that area they appear to the same as my wheels. I always thought the other center style was original to the 71-72 trucks. I also thought it would allow the caps to sit inset just a bit.

[special-K]

I get confused with all the this part is in more and that part is out more. It seems to me the convex ones put the hubcap deeper, but once I get to considering all the differences I guess not...and my mind goes haywire

It would seem both have differences that make them the same in an overall sense...meaning the back side of the bolting surface in relation to the offset become the same.

Convex centers sit inward but center protrudes more and that is why the "well" where the lug hoes are is deeper. I man, thy are the same width with same backspace, so differences must cancel each other out. Why are they different? Heck if I know, ask a Tibetan monk